DANCE CATEGORIES:
Solo: 1 dancer (Competitors compete by single ages)
Duet/Trio: 2 to 3 dancers
Group: 4 to 9 dancers
Line: 10 to 16 dancers
Extended Line: 17 or more dancers
Production: any number of dancers using props, musical theatre and staging techniques
Duet/Trios, Groups, Lines and Productions: average age of dancers – drop the decimal as at December 31, 2024.
TIME GUIDELINES:
Novice: Solo, Duet/Trio – 2.5 minutes
Groups, Lines: no more than 3 minutes
Regular Categories: Solo – 2.5 minutes, D/T – 3 minutes
Group/Line/Ext. Line: 3.5 minutes, Production – at least 4 minutes
(Please advise of any entry over 3 minutes.)
CLASSIFICATION:
NOVICE: (separate overall awards)
Novice Solo: a dancer who is performing a solo for their first competitive season. They may have danced in a duet/trio or group other years.
Novice Duet/Trio: This is the first year the dancers are performing in a duet/trio. They have not competed in a solo, duet/trio in previous years but may have danced in a group.
Novice Group/Line/Extended Line: 75% of the competitors in the routine have never danced in a solo, duet/trio or a group/line/extended line in previous years.
PRE-COMPETITIVE: (separate overall awards)
All dancers in this division train 6 or less hours per week. A dancer in the Pre-Competitive Category may dance in the solo or duet/trio category in the Competitive Division, but must only dance their solo or duet/trio in one category only.
PROFESSIONAL: (not eligible for overall awards)
All dancers that are employed/teaching dance for income.
DANCE FORMS:
Acro: A routine that consists primarily of acrobatic technique while using controlled moves such as walkovers, limbers, handstands, handsprings, chest rolls etc. Routine may contain gymnastic passes, flexibility moves or contortionist moves, but may also contain dance moves, steps, and choreography.
Ballet: Routine must consist of ballet technique while incorporating classical movements and steps. Ballet slippers must be worn.
Pointe: Routine must consist of Pointe or toe technique while incorporating classical movement and steps. Routine can be incorporated to classic or contemporary music.
Demi-Character: A routine portraying a recognizable character or stereotype and must consist of ballet technique. Character can be from a TV show, play, movie or stage show.
Demi-Pointe: Routine must consist of half toe technique while incorporating classical movement and steps. Routine can be incorporated to classic or contemporary music.
Jazz: A routine consisting primarily of jazz technique. Up to two acrobatic or gymnastic tricks are permitted.
Contemporary/Modern: Routine should demonstrate balance, control, and extensions using contemporary style of “Modern Dance” technique. Strong interpretative and expressive emotionally intense movements of the lyrics and/or music should be displayed.
Lyrical: Routine should consist of a combination of jazz, modern, and ballet while using balance, control, extensions, isolations and flexibility to relate to the mood and feeling of the music. No pointe shoes are permitted. 3 or less acro tricks are permitted. General lifts are permtted.
Musical Theatre: A routine portraying a character throughout. Can be from a play, movie, television, or stage production. Any form of dance may be incorporated. Lip-syncing is allowed.
Open: Any routine which does not fit into any of our dance categories or a routine which is a combination of two or more of our dance categories. 5 or less acro tricks are allowed. A line of tricks is considered one acro move when the movement is not interrupted.
Song and Dance: Routine must contain both singing and any listed category of dancing. Song and Dance routine must consist of at least 50% dance. Microphones are permitted. Wireless headsets must be supplied by the studio. Please ensure that ample time for set up and testing is arranged before performance of routine.
Hip Hop/Street Dance: Routines where dancers execute free form movement and styling characteristic of Contemporary dance styles. Funk, Hip-Hop, Break Dance, Street Dance and Free Style are permitted in this category.
Tap: Routine must consist primarily of tap technique. No pre-recorded tap sounds are permitted.
Production: Routine must have a minimum of 15 dancers. Routine can incorporate any style(s) of dance or acrobatics but must have a theme or story that is portrayed throughout the entire performance.
